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A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.

Where do tornadoes come from?

Tornadoes come from thunderstorms.

Where do tornadoes occur?

Tornadoes can occur whenever and wherever conditions are right! Tornadoes can occur in every state in the United States, on any day of the year, and at any hour. They also occur in many other parts of the world, including Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.

Where is Tornado Alley?

Tornado Alley is a nickname for an area that has more tornadoes than other parts of the U.S. The area that has the most strong and violent tornadoes includes eastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, northern Texas, and eastern Colorado.

How much advance warning can forecasters give us before a tornado strikes?

The current average lead-time for tornado warnings is 13 minutes. NOAA Research is working to increase tornado warning lead-times much further.

A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar — time to take cover! Your local National Weather Service office issues tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

How many people are killed by tornadoes each year?

Tornadoes kill about 60 people each year, mostly from flying or falling debris.

How many tornadoes hit the US each year?

About 1,200.

What is the EF-Scale?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates tornadoes by the damage they cause. Tornado categories are from EF0 to EF5. The EF-Scale takes into account variables such as building type, structures, and the sizes of trees.